Words by Zoe Zorka
Less than a week into March, the northeast is recovering from their recent storm and a large crop of highly talented artists have dropped albums and singles- largely in preparation for upcoming summer tours and music festivals.
Aside from being infamous for rough weather and a holiday in which people inexplicably use the color green as an excuse to get drunk, March is also National Women’s Month – a month dedicated to recognizing, honoring, and celebrating the achievements of American women.
It’s fitting then that Snow Tha Product, one of this generation’s most talented and versatile female emcees, chose this month to take the hip-hop industry by a storm of her own with the release of her single “Help a Bitch Out,” a club banger featuring O.T. Genasis, about a visit to the strip club from a female perspective in which she proudly raps: Know when you cash women’s empowerment/I be stuntin’ on these boys, mamacita bring the noise, a clear verse about women’s empowerment if there ever was one.
In a 2016 interview with The Source, the artist expressed her struggle to find her own niche while diversifying her style, stating that she wanted to be known simply a rap talent, an emcee that can hold her own on the mic with any of the greats—not someone constantly labeled as a ‘woman’ and a ‘Latina” – or just someone who raps really fast.
This intensity, self-awareness, and focus has earned the respect of several major rappers, collaborating on projects with K/naan, Ty Dolla Sign, Lupe Fiasco, and most recently, appearing on Tech N9ne’s song “How I’m Feeling,” on his album Planet, which came out March 2 along with Navé Monjo. Snow lays down one of the most solid verses on the song with: It ain’t mumble rap if you hear me clearly/I rap better than you boys and you gettin’ weary/’Cause I hit a little melody and I know you hear me.
As the artist prepares for her upcoming SXSW performance, it’s clear that she doesn’t need a man to help establish herself as dominant presence in the hip-hop community.
And yes, we hear her loud and clear.
